BBC presenter Dianne Oxberry dies aged 51 after a short battle with cancer

Dianne Oxberry worked on BBC TV and radio programmes from the mid-'90s (Photo: BBC)

Helen Johnson

Published:12:24 pmJanuary 11, 2019

BBC television and radio presenter Dianne Oxberry, aged 51, has died from cancer.

Her family has confirmed that she died on Thursday morning (10 Jan), at the Christie hospital in Manchester.

Oxberry was a well-known presenter, working on everything from current affairs programme Inside Out North West to Radio 1.

After studying meteorology, Oxberry became the North West’s weather presenter in 1994, as well as fronting Inside Out North West.

She also worked alongside Simon Mayo and Steve Wright on Radio 1 during her career, and as a reporter for BBC Sport, covering events such as the Manchester 10k and the Great North Run.

In 2002, Oxberry was asked to present BBC Radio Manchester’s lunchtime show. She then went on to co-host the station’s flagship breakfast show with Eamonn O’Neal between 2006 and 2008.

Tributes from colleagues

Acknowledging Oxberry’s death, Aziz Rashid, head of BBC North West, said, “We are all devastated by this dreadful news. The coming days will be difficult but we will do our best to pay tribute to someone who meant so much to us all and made such an enormous contribution to broadcasting in the North West.”

Fellow BBC North West Tonight presenters Roger Johnson and Annabel Tiffin, who Oxberry recently took part in a 100-mile relay walk for Children In Need with, have also paid tribute.

Johnson said, “We are heartbroken by Dianne’s death. It is almost impossible to comprehend. Dianne was North West Tonight. It’s hard to imagine the programme without her.

Devastated to hear this news.She was a wonderful, joyous part of our breakfast team at Radio 1. I loved working with her. My condolences to her family.

“Our thoughts are with Ian and all of Dianne’s family. We hope they will find some comfort in the knowledge so many people loved Dianne and will miss her terribly.”

Tiffin commented, “This is an enormous shock for all of us. I can scarcely believe Dianne has died. She was loved by our viewers, by all of us at North West Tonight. My heart breaks for her family.

“Di was so talented, so beautiful, so funny and so full of life. On screen she was a star, radiating warmth and good humour. Off screen, she was a wonderful colleague, a loyal friend and I will miss her terribly.”

Oxberry’s former Radio 1 colleague Simon Mayo tweeted, “Devastated to hear this news. She was a wonderful, joyous part of our breakfast team at Radio 1. I loved working with her. My condolences to her family.”